Volatile organic compounds for inhibiting fungal growth

Abstract

Compositions, devices, and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing fungal infection in an animal are provided. The methods involve exposing the animal to one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a quantity sufficient to inhibit or reduce fungal growth in the animal. Also disclosed is an automated aerosolization unit (AAU) for delivering compositions, such as the disclosed VOCs, to areas, such as habitats, to treat or prevent fungal infections in animals.

1 . An automated aerosolization unit (AAU) comprised of:
 a computing device;   a nebulizer unit; and   a power source,   wherein the nebulizer unit is comprised of a reservoir, a pump unit, and a nebulizer, and wherein the computing device executes computer-readable instructions to disperse a liquid contained in the reservoir in aerosol form to reach a concentration in an airspace in which the AAU is placed.   
     
     
         2 . The AAU of  claim 1 , wherein the nebulizer unit further comprises a control device. 
     
     
         3 . The AAU of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises one or more of a battery, a capacitor, an energy harvesting device, or an AC power source converted into a form acceptable for the computing device and the nebulizer unit. 
     
     
         4 . The AAU of  claim 3 , further comprising a voltage and a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The AAU of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid to be dispersed in aerosol form comprises essential oils, VOCs, or VOC formulations. 
     
     
         6 . The AAU of  claim 5 , wherein the VOC is selected from the group consisting of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, benzaldehyde, benzothiazole, decanal, nonanal, and N,N-dimethyloctylamine. 
     
     
         7 . The AAU of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid to be dispersed in aerosol form comprises 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and benzaldehyde; 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and nonanal; 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and decanal; or 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and N,N-dimethyloctylamine. 
     
     
         8 . The AAU of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid to be dispersed in aerosol form comprises 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, benzaldehyde, and decanal. 
     
     
         9 . The AAU of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid to be dispersed in aerosol form comprises 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, nonanal, and decanal 
     
     
         10 . The AAU of  claim 5 , wherein the VOC is selected from the group consisting of propionoic acid, 2-nonanone, undecene, styrene, β-phenylethanol, and dimethyl sulfide. 
     
     
         11 . The AAU of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device further comprises an input device. 
     
     
         12 . The AAU of  claim 11 , wherein the input device is removable from the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The AAU of  claim 11 , wherein the input device is used to enter input parameters into the computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The AAU of  claim 13 , wherein the input parameters include a mode of operation for the AAU. 
     
     
         15 . The AAU of  claim 13 , wherein the input parameters include one or more of an off time for the AAU, a run time for the AAU, a start delay for the AAU, a volume of airspace where the AAU is to be used, an air turnover rate in the airspace, a barometric pressure in the airspace, a molecular weight of the liquid in the reservoir, a desired concentration of the liquid in the airspace, and how often to raise the airspace to the desired concentration. 
     
     
         16 . The AAU of  claim 15 , wherein the computing device executes computer-readable instructions to determine how long (Run Time) the device should run in order to reach the desired concentration in the airspace. 
     
     
         17 . The AAU of  claim 16 , wherein the run time is determined using at least in part an ideal gas law. 
     
     
         18 . The AAU of  claim 11 , wherein the computing device executes computer-readable instructions to delay a start of the AAU; turn on the AAU for a time (T=Run Time); apply a conversion factor to the run time, T, to determine TConv, where the conversion factor is based on a temperature and voltage of the power source; and, if TConv is less than run time T, then the AAU is turned on for an additional time period as determined by T−Tconv. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of automatically dispersing a liquid in aerosol form comprising:
 receiving, by a computing device, one or more input parameters;   determining, by the computing device based on the input parameters, how long to run a nebulizer unit operably connected with the computing device to achieve a concentration of a compound in an airspace; and   running the nebulizer unit for the determined run time.   
     
     
         22 - 34 . (canceled)